9/21/2023 – Polish grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda emerged victorious in the thrilling 2023 Armageddon Championship Series, clinching a remarkable €80,000 prize. Wesley So secured the runner-up position with a commendable €20,000 prize. This championship marks a significant milestone in the world of chess, highlighting the growing importance of short-form chess formats and broadcasting innovations. | Photos: Max Avdeev / World Chess
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more. ChessBase Magazine offers first-class training material for club players and professionals! World-class players analyse their brilliant games and explain the ideas behind the moves. Opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master trainers in tactics, strategy and endgames show you the tricks and techniques you need to be a successful tournament player! Available as a direct download (incl. booklet as pdf file) or booklet with download key by post. Included in delivery: ChessBase Magazine #225 as “ChessBase Book” for iPad, tablet, Mac etc.!
Winning starts with what you know The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
Armageddon Championship series winner: Duda’s chess brilliance led to his well-deserved championship win, solidifying his position as a formidable chess player on the global stage. He managed to perform the best under enormous pressure.
Diverse competitors: The grand finale featured a star-studded lineup of chess talents, including Wesley So, Sam Shankland, Gukesh D, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Humpy Koneru, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Richard Rapport. Their intense battles captivated audiences worldwide, with huge interest coming from India, the Philippines, Germany, and the US.
Wesley So published two new opening DVDs: 1.b3, the so called Nimzo-Larsen-Attack, for White and his black secrets in the modern Italian. Get them in a package and save money!
Global broadcast: The 2023 Armageddon Championship Series became one of the year's most-watched chess events, reaching audiences through 18 online and TV platforms. Major networks like CNBC, BeIN Sports, Channel 4, and FOX Australia brought the excitement of chess to a global audience.
Modern presentation: World Chess, the event’s organizing body, unveiled a custom-made studio that redefines chess aesthetics. This innovative approach emphasizes chess as a dynamic, contemporary, and electrifying spectacle, setting the stage for the future of the game. The broadcast featured the players’ heart rates, one of the most talked-about features in the series.
Wesley So
Heart-pounding stats
- Wesley So: Recorded a heart rate of 178 bpm during the competition. - Sam Shankland: Registered 129 bpm in heart rate. - Jan-Krzysztof Duda: Maintained a heart rate of 144 bpm. - Nodirbek Abdusattorov: Showcased 145 bpm in heart rate. - Richard Rapport: Recorded 179 bmp in heart rate. - Gukesh D: Achieved a heart rate of 144 bpm. - Humpy Koneru: Maintained 173 bpm in heart rate. - Bibisara Assaubayeva: Registered 145 bpm in heart rate.
In this video course, experts (Pelletier, Marin, Müller and Reeh) examine the games of Judit Polgar. Let them show you which openings Polgar chose to play, where her strength in middlegames were, or how she outplayed her opponents in the endgame.
The Armageddon format has injected a new dimension of excitement into chess. It challenges players to balance strategy and speed, making it a true test of skill under pressure. This groundbreaking format has captured the imagination of chess enthusiasts worldwide, reinvigorating the game for modern audiences.
Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess, commented:
The Armageddon Championship Series has not only increased engagement but also brought a fresh perspective to chess. We anticipate the next season, where top-tier players will once again go head-to-head in this dynamic format. We also feel that the event is a sandbox of chess innovations, and we will continue adding features that make chess a spectator sport.
Andrey Insarov, Chief Executive Officer at it.com Domains, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the recently concluded Armageddon Championship Series 2023:
We are delighted to have witnessed the remarkable fusion of intelligence and skill in the Armageddon Series. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the deserving winner for their truly outstanding performance. It was an incredible spectacle! At it.com Domains, we are genuinely excited about our meaningful partnership with World Chess and our role in supporting this prestigious sport.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda receiving the winner’s trophy
Mark your calendars
The inaugural season of Armageddon has left us hungry for more. Chess fans worldwide are encouraged to mark their calendars for the return of Armageddon in 2024.
Relive the action
For those who missed the heart-pounding action or wish to delve deeper into the competition, exclusive interviews, and highlights, World Chess invites you to visit their official YouTube channel.
2025 European Championship with a German double victory and analyses by Bluebaum, Svane, Rodshtein, Yuffa, Navara and many more. Opening videos by Engel, King and Marin. Training sections “The Fortress”, “The Trap” and “Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" etc.
2nd Move Anti-Sicilian Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12090 games from Mega 2025 or the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 874 are annotated.
Ruy Lopez Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12092 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 1276 are annotated.
€9.90
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